Provided is a method and apparatus for assigning an Internet Protocol (IP)
address using agents in a zero configuration network. The IP address
assignment method involves: (a) receiving a registration request message
of a user computer which contains a home agent IP address, and the ID and
password of the user computer; (b) transmitting to the user computer an
encoded address answer message which indicates permission of the address
registration; and (c) setting up a network environment in the user
computer by decoding the encoded address answer message. Problems of
mobile IP extensibility and a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
authentication are solved by applying the concept of a mobile Internet
protocol agent to the protocol in a zero configuration network.